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Pius Nsabe
Thanksgiving and gratitude were the dominant themes on Sunday, October 12, 2025, as members of the Society of St. Vincent De Paul (SSVP), Lagos Central Council, gathered at St. Cyril Catholic Church, Okota, to celebrate their annual feast day in grand style.
Although the official feast of St. Vincent De Paul is globally observed on September 27, the council leadership deferred the commemoration by about two weeks to allow broader participation among members and conferences across Lagos.
The atmosphere at St. Cyril’s was radiant as conference after conference of Vincentians arrived, transforming the church premises into a sea of yellow and blue—the society’s traditional colours. Members, dressed in their distinctive uniforms, brought colour and warmth to the occasion.
At about 11:00 a.m., the celebration began with a solemn Mass presided over by the society’s Chaplain, Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Uche, and co-celebrated by the Parish Priest, Very Rev. Fr. Martin Uwakwe.
In his homily, drawn from the biblical account of the ten lepers healed by Jesus, Fr. Uwakwe emphasized the power of thanksgiving and gratitude. He commended members of the Society of St. Vincent De Paul for sustaining the spirit of appreciation through their annual thanksgiving, noting that gratitude remains a key virtue in Christian service and charity.
The highlight of the Mass included the induction of new members, further strengthening the society’s workforce of volunteers dedicated to serving the poor and vulnerable. Each of the 18 Particular Councils under the Lagos Central Council also took turns to file out for thanksgiving, presenting offerings in gratitude for a fruitful year of service.
Following the Mass, members and guests converged for a lively reception and interactive session, featuring music, refreshments, and camaraderie among Vincentians from various conferences.
The Central Council also used the occasion to launch a ₦20 million fundraising campaign in support of the completion of its flagship for the council’s empowerment project, designed to enhance skills training and economic support for the needy.
The event, which blended solemn worship with joyful celebration, reaffirmed the Society’s long-standing mission of charity, humility, and service to humanity in the spirit of St. Vincent De Paul, their patron saint.